Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has confirmed David Luiz will replace John Terry at the heart of the Blues defence for the visit of Liverpool on Friday night.
Terry's ankle injury - which the Italian confirmed will keep him out for 10 days - has created an opening for Luiz to make his second Blues debut against Jurgen Klopp's side.
The Brazilian arrived from PSG in a £34m deadline-day deal and Conte believes he is ready to deal with Liverpool's attacking threat at Stamford Bridge.
“Tomorrow David Luiz will play with us for the first time and we are confident," he said.
“I said this because it is the truth when new players arrive it is normal that they need the time to adapt to a new concept and idea of football.
“But tomorrow we needed to play David Luiz - he worked a lot in these days [since he joined] in defensive situations with the ball.
“I am confident for him tomorrow for his performance.”
Conte discussed Terry's absence from the starting XI and revealed he had reported for a training session in order to build up his fitness ahead of a possible return at Arsenal on September 24.
“He has strained the ligaments in his ankle," he revealed.
“The doctor told me after 10 days he can come back, he is working very hard and had a training session today to recover."
